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Arizona Senator and GOP Presidential Candidate John McCain is making a short stop-over in Chicago tonight for a fundraiser at a downtown hotel and the event is going to prove more lucrative than once thought thanks to the soaring popularity of McCain's VP choice, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. State Rep Jim Durkin of Westchester is coordinating the event and says that the money has come pouring in since the Palin choice was announced. "Since he named Palin, this has taken on a life of its own." It's a welcomed bounce for McCain, especially coming in the home state of his opponent, Senator Barack Obama.
The event is expected to raise at least $4 million. Of course, like all political fundraisers, this one is not a cheap date.
- $1,000 - reception
- $5,000 - a smaller reception and photo with McCain
- $25,000 - dinner
Those expecting a Palin appearance will be disappointed; the avid hockey mom has bypassed Illinois for the more crucial swing state of Ohio where she will join McCain for some public appearances.
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All the sad Illinois republicans trundling in from the southlands and burbs, shame-faced, broken. I'm wondering if Alan Keyes will be in attendance. He lives here now right? He promised that remember? Anyone? Hello?
$50,000 for a guaranteed seat not at Jim Oberweis' table.
I hear that Palin is not going to wear shoes just to impress her "base" of rednecks and the keep'em bare foot and pregnant crowd
That's a ton just to be in the room. I wonder why its 5000 for the picture but 25K to eat with him? Is the dinner worth 20K?
if these were the flusher days of yore i might think about blowing a grand just to throw a drink in someone's face but it's not so...
Don't take a picture with McCain.
It's how he steals your life force.
@fremo:
The food isn't worth the $20K, the proximity is. Presumably, those eating will be able to approach the McCain table etc, and have the opportunity for more face time.
Face time with Presidents is priceless. It is legendary how staffers new to the white house squabble over office space, where the closer to the oval office you are, the more influential you are perceived to be. George Steph. in the Clinton White House took an office in a converted closet to be closer to Bill.
I imagine the same principle is at work at these fundraisers.
How much to you have to pay to get a no handlers/no teleprompter press session with Palin?
This from Jan Schakowsky Political Update
Say NO to John McCain in Chicago!
Tonight, John McCain will be in Chicago to hold a high dollar fundraiser.
As John McCain raises money inside, we'll be outside, putting our Community Organizing skills to work to raise awareness about how disastrous four more years of failed Bush-McCain policies will be for our country.
CORRECTION: Assemble at MICHIGAN AND BALBO near the location of the McCain Fundraiser at 5:00 PM on Monday.
The weather forecast calls for rain, so bring an umbrella!
I really wish the media would stop calling her "hockey mom." I really wish SHE would stop calling herself a "hockey mom."
Her son doesn't even play hockey anymore. He's in the Army. You're only a hockey mom, soccer mom, etc. if your kids are in school and actually playing the sport.
The only Republicans who deserve to be in the room are Peter Fitzgerald and Steve Rauschenberg.
The rest should be shuttled to Oberweis' backyard for dairy treats. Over some Cookies 'n Cream, they can make plans to beg Michael Madigan for pork for their home districts.
"Face time with Presidents is priceless."
Outstanding. Once Obama gets into the White House, I'm set, since I not only had FACE time with him, but actually shook his hand outside an L stop back when he was running for US Senate.
I'm sure he'll remember me. I was the one holding a Red Eye and wearing an iPod.
Ah yes. The Mean Team is headed to my Ohio hometown tomorrow.
@Navin: I'd love to donate to your Plain Speaks (without handlers/teleprompters) cause. Whatever amount it takes would probably be worth it.
It is music to my ears to hear you lefties sputtering and stammering since Palin came on the scene.
Be careful, you're going to bust your shirt collars and forehead veins.
Yeah, I remember meeting Obama at the Metra station way back then. Pretty funny that he was holding out literature and I brushed past him - had a train to catch, you know?
A few years before that I was trying to get to work when I lived in Rogers Park and Joe Moore was blocking the way of every commuter he could at the Morse L stop.
"
It is music to my ears to hear you lefties sputtering and stammering since Palin came on the scene.
Be careful, you're going to bust your shirt collars and forehead veins.
"
Sputtering about what, Ward? Look. I guess I am "moderate" or "centrist" or whatever else people want to label me. What kills me is that for some stupid reason both "Lefties" and "Righties" are constantly dominating what is passing as the public discourse. "Oh you lefty, lefty lefty nah-nah." "Evil Righty, righty righty." Reminds me of a school yard.
What's a lefty and what's a righty? Define please.
With all the Fake "liberal media" bias touted by everyone, it is no wonder McCain is ahead. All of our media is bending over backwards to accommodate the corporate republicans. Media everywhere has been running scared ever since the Rethug convention and their macho talk scared their corporate media friends into changing things like the future MSNBC lineups, thus allowing the Fox type propaganda people to remain.. The Democratic convention lasted 4 days and stopped at midnight August 28th! The rethug convention started the next morning and continues with coverage of their convention, with footage airing non-stop to this day - 11 days now and running! When does their convention coverage stop? The Republicons have a had very successful propaganda thing going with this fake "liberal media" thing. Go ahead American media - give the presidency to another liar!
Sousa,
Have you been eating paint chips again? Good of you to leave the "Sept. 11th was inside job" type message boards and present us with that tantrum.
Franny,
I will see you and the rest of the Brownshirts outside the Hilton tonight. We cant let a group of people that dont believe as we do have a political rally on our watch.
Navin, maybe she will say something honest like my running mate isnt prepared to be president Oh no that was Joe Biden in one of his last honest statements.
Sousa,
you gotta keep it real simple in this room, most folks can't really handle nor do they want real critical analysis and when confronted with it, they will head to the hills
Spook,
Well said, and agreed. Allow me:
Sousa,
The guy behind the curtain pulling the levers controlling everything....that was the Wizard of Oz, It's just a movie.
If you are going to make a summary judgement on media and politics in this country, how about offering more than a misguided two-week sampling of events.
Maybe you could take the case to the media? Appear on Ellen, Oprah, O'Reily, Daily Show....and on, and on...
Navin, maybe she will say something honest like my running mate isnt prepared to be president Oh no that was Joe Biden in one of his last honest statements.
Oh sad, sad Fed,
I'm not voting for Obama so your weak (but mommy Joe said it too!) anti-Obama magic is useless here. Try again. Or better yet, tell us all the awesome unsubstantiated empty positives of Palin. She's a Hockey mom! Outsider! She's....she's....not ugly! lol.
Sousa,
Obama is now trailing because he has not been playing for the red states outside of PA and Ohio. As crazy a pick Palin is, she has a much broader appeal than a 35 year Senator, who has already ran for president twice only to exit very early on both occasions. It's becoming obvious that she has more appeal than McCain, but obviously, that too is good for McCain. Experience is not an issue in this election, if it were, Obama wouldn't have won the nomination. People really do want change and that means bringing in fresh faces.
And Oberman? Seriously? Were Chris Berman and Trey Wingo busy?